People always talk about how Luke Skywalker was handled in the sequels—and, let’s be honest, there’s a lot to say about that—but I can’t help but wonder why Han Solo and Leia Organa don’t get the same level of attention.
For me, their story in the original trilogy was just as impactful, if not more.
But when I think about what happened to them in the sequels, I can’t shake the feeling that something went wrong. Han and Leia went from being legends of the rebellion to estranged parents, their victories undone, and their stories left feeling hollow.
Let me show you exactly why their treatment in the sequels doesn’t sit right with me.
The Disappointing Arc of Han Solo in the Sequels
Han Solo’s portrayal in the sequels is one of the most disappointing aspects of Disney’s Star Wars trilogy.
In The Force Awakens, we’re reintroduced to him not as the legendary hero who helped overthrow the Empire, but as a man seemingly stuck in his old smuggling habits.
The growth we saw in Return of the Jedi—where he became a dedicated leader, friend, and partner—was stripped away. It’s as if all his development from the original trilogy was undone.
I couldn’t help but feel that Han deserved better. The films show him estranged from Leia, grieving the loss of Ben Solo, and back to running small-time schemes to survive.
While these elements could have been explored with depth and nuance, they’re instead treated as an afterthought. His emotional arc is overshadowed by the need to move the plot forward and introduce the next generation of characters.
And then there’s his death. Han’s confrontation with Ben on Starkiller Base is a pivotal moment, and while it has emotional weight, it feels rushed.
Han Solo, the smuggler-turned-hero who always managed to find a way out, dies not in a blaze of glory or a triumphant act of heroism but as a pawn in Kylo Ren’s journey to becoming Darth Vader 2.0. His sacrifice doesn’t feel earned or meaningful—it feels like a tool to advance someone else’s story.
What bothers me most is how little the sequels reflect on his legacy. There’s no significant mourning of Han after his death, and his contributions to the Rebellion and the galaxy’s freedom feel minimized. Even Chewbacca’s grief is brushed aside after a fleeting moment.
The sequels reduced him to a relic of the past, used more as a stepping stone for new characters than as a meaningful part of the story. For a character so integral to Star Wars, this treatment doesn’t sit right with me.
The Sequels Failed to Uphold Leia’s Legacy
Leia Organa, one of the most iconic leaders in the Star Wars galaxy, deserved a continuation of her story that honored her strength, resilience, and revolutionary spirit.
Yet, the sequels treated her legacy as fragmented and incomplete, overshadowed by poor narrative choices and underdeveloped arcs.
When we last see Leia in Return of the Jedi, she is on the brink of a new chapter: the rebellion’s victory over the Empire, her newfound knowledge of her heritage as a Skywalker, and her budding romance with Han Solo.
This was a foundation ripe for exploration. Yet, in the sequels, much of that promise is either discarded or muddled.
The sequels portray Leia as a figure grappling with immense loss—the death of her son Ben to the dark side, the dissolution of her relationship with Han, and the collapse of the New Republic she helped build.
While these elements could have provided rich emotional depth, the films fail to resolve them meaningfully. Instead of showcasing Leia as the wise and seasoned leader who overcomes these challenges, her character is left stuck in grief and regret.
In The Force Awakens, Leia’s role as General of the Resistance is highlighted, but her influence feels diminished.
She’s largely relegated to the background, giving orders but lacking the commanding presence she once had. Her once fiery personality is muted, reduced to somber exchanges about the past with Han and occasional strategic commands.
The Last Jedi delivers one of Leia’s most debated moments: her “space flight” using the Force. While this scene was intended to demonstrate Leia’s connection to the Force, it came across as jarring and poorly executed, leaving many fans bewildered rather than inspired.
By the time we reach The Rise of Skywalker, Leia’s presence is severely constrained due to Carrie Fisher’s tragic passing.
The film relies on unused footage from previous installments, which, while a commendable effort, leads to stilted dialogue and a lack of narrative cohesion. Her death is abrupt and lacks the emotional weight that such a monumental moment deserved.
The sequels could have explored Leia’s role as a mentor, her struggles as a mother, or her journey as a Force-sensitive individual. Instead, her character arc feels incomplete and unworthy of her legacy as one of the original trilogy’s most compelling heroes.